Irresistible Peanut Butter Nutella Crinkle Cookies: A Holiday Baking Must-Try
Are you perpetually caught in the delightful dilemma of choosing between the rich, nutty comfort of peanut butter and the creamy, chocolatey bliss of Nutella? Good news: you no longer have to pick a side! Prepare to indulge in the ultimate fusion with these incredible **Peanut Butter Nutella Crinkle Cookies**. These aren’t just any cookies; they’re a celebration of two beloved spreads, combining them into a soft, moist, and utterly irresistible chocolate crinkle cookie that will have everyone asking for more. Perfect for the holidays, a special treat, or just because you deserve a double dose of deliciousness!
Embracing the Holiday Baking Season (Finally!)
With Thanksgiving feasts beautifully behind us, the festive spirit of Christmas can finally take center stage! Personally, I adhere to a strict “no Christmas talk before Black Friday” rule. While stores seem to push the holiday season earlier and earlier – sometimes as early as July with their tree displays – I prefer to savor each season in its turn. But once that Black Friday whirlwind settles, it’s full steam ahead for all things merry and bright, especially when it comes to baking!
This year, I was particularly eager to kick off December 1st with a batch of festive cookies. The thought of freshly baked **Christmas cookies** filling the house with warmth and sweet aromas was exactly what I needed. However, fate had other plans, as I found myself stuck in Ohio for work until Friday night. The anticipation built, and by Saturday, I was finally home, ready to dive into my extensive collection of cookie cookbooks. Picture this: a cozy afternoon, surrounded by a million tempting recipes, yet I couldn’t quite pinpoint what I craved. Then, a memory sparked!
The Inspiration Behind These Double Nutty Delights
Just before my trip, the latest issue of *Cooking Club* magazine had arrived, and tucked within its pages was a recipe that immediately caught my eye: “Peanut Butter Nutella Crinkle Cookies.” It was an epiphany! Why choose when you can have both? The idea of a **chocolate crinkle cookie** infused with the rich, creamy notes of both Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread and creamy peanut butter was simply too good to pass up. This truly was a “double nutty” dream come true, promising a cookie experience unlike any other.
The term “crinkle” refers to the beautiful, signature texture these cookies develop during baking. As the cookie dough spreads in the oven, the sugar coating on the outside cracks and “crinkles,” creating a stunning visual effect that is as appealing to the eye as it is to the palate. It’s a classic cookie presentation that signals homemade goodness and a tender, **soft and chewy** interior. These **peanut butter Nutella crinkle cookies** promise that iconic look and an unforgettable taste.
Achieving That Perfect Crinkle Cookie Texture
One of the most remarkable qualities of these particular **Nutella crinkle cookies** is their exquisite texture. They bake up incredibly soft and moist in the middle, a delightful contrast to their slightly crisp edges. When you first pull them from the oven, they might appear quite soft and puffed, which is perfectly normal. Don’t fret! These cookies magically come together and firm up beautifully as they cool, achieving that ideal **soft-chewy** consistency that makes crinkle cookies so beloved. The combination of ingredients ensures a rich, dense, and satisfying bite every time.
A crucial step for ensuring these **Peanut Butter Nutella Crinkle Cookies** are a success is chilling the dough. The dough needs to be refrigerated for at least 30 minutes before you attempt to scoop and roll it. This firming-up period makes the dough much easier to handle, preventing sticky situations and ensuring your cookie balls hold their shape before baking. This chilling step is also fantastic for meal prepping: you can bake them immediately after chilling, or freeze the scooped, sugared dough balls for future baking sessions, making fresh, warm cookies a possibility any day of the week! Imagine having a stash of ready-to-bake **easy cookie recipes** on hand!
A Baker’s Relatable Struggle: The Freezer Fiasco
On a slight, yet incredibly relatable, tangent for any home baker: have you ever encountered a freezer that seems expressly designed *against* the needs of a cookie tray? I certainly did while preparing these cookies! I spent a frustrating 10 minutes playing “building blocks” with various frozen meals and meatballs, attempting to create a flat surface deep enough to accommodate my cookie sheet. The shelves on the freezer door were particularly unhelpful, stubbornly obstructing my path.
When my Tetris-like efforts failed, I resorted to removing an entire shelf – a five-minute struggle in itself just to get it out, and then another five minutes to put it back! It was a clear sign: the designer of my freezer was most certainly not a baker. This little mishap, however, only added to the charm of the baking process, a reminder that even the most delightful creations sometimes come with a side of minor kitchen adventures. It’s these small challenges that make the reward of a fresh batch of **Peanut Butter Nutella Crinkle Cookies** even sweeter!
Crafting Your Perfect Dozen: Small Batch Perfection
Originally, this recipe was destined for my holiday baking repertoire, but I quickly realized its potential for year-round enjoyment. I’ve thoughtfully reworked the recipe to yield a perfect **small batch of 1 dozen cookies**. This makes it ideal for when you’re craving fresh-baked cookies without having an overwhelming quantity, or when you just want a manageable amount to share (or not share, we won’t tell!). This **easy cookie recipe** is perfect for any day you need a little pick-me-up.
While they are undoubtedly fantastic on their own, these **Peanut Butter Nutella Crinkle Cookies** also lend themselves to some truly decadent enhancements. For an extra special **Nutella treat**, imagine sandwiching them with a scoop of homemade Nutella ice cream in the middle – pure bliss! Or, for a warm, comforting indulgence, try dunking them in a rich Nutella sauce. The possibilities for enjoying these double-flavored wonders are endless, making them versatile for dessert tables or simple snack times.
Explore More Peanut Butter Delights
If you find yourself loving the peanut butter aspect of these crinkle cookies and are eager for more nutty goodness, be sure to check out some of my other favorite **peanut butter cookies** recipes. For a quick and easy option, my Small Batch Peanut Butter Cookies are a classic crowd-pleaser. And if you’re looking for something a little different and fun, don’t miss these adorable Peanut Butter Cookie Cups. Happy baking, and enjoy these delightful **Peanut Butter Nutella Crinkle Cookies**!
Peanut Butter Nutella Crinkle Cookies
1 dozen
15 minutes
10 minutes
30 minutes
55 minutes
Experience the ultimate cookie combination: rich Nutella and creamy peanut butter in a delightful chocolate crinkle cookie! These soft, chewy, and **easy-to-make cookies** are perfect for satisfying any sweet craving. This **small-batch recipe** yields a perfect dozen, ideal for sharing or keeping all to yourself. Get ready for a flavor explosion that brings the best of both worlds into one amazing treat!
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (like Nutella)
- 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (divided)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter (creamy or crunchy works well)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer (or a stand mixer), beat together the softened unsalted butter, 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar, chocolate hazelnut spread (Nutella), and peanut butter until the mixture is smooth, light, and wonderfully creamy. This should take approximately 2-3 minutes. Next, beat in the egg and vanilla extract for another 30 seconds until they are fully incorporated. Gradually add the prepared dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, beating on low speed until just combined and a soft, cohesive dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or until it is firm enough to easily scoop and roll. This chilling step is crucial for achieving the perfect crinkle texture and makes the dough much more manageable.
- Once the dough is adequately chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
- Place the remaining 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar in a small, shallow bowl. Using a #40 cookie scoop (which holds approximately 1.5 tablespoons of dough) or by hand, shape the dough into uniform 1 1/2-inch balls. Generously roll each dough ball in the granulated sugar until it is thoroughly coated. Arrange the sugared cookie balls on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring you leave about 2 inches between them to allow for spreading.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the cookies have developed their signature crinkled appearance on top. The centers may still look slightly soft, but they will firm up as they cool. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy these delightful **Peanut Butter Nutella Crinkle Cookies** fresh from the oven or stored for later!
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Source: Adapted from Cooking Club Winter 2012 page 7